Conservation of fine art and historic photographs
Krista Lough Art Conservation is dedicated to providing cultural institutions, foundations, and private collectors the conservation support they would want from a passionate conservator.
Our story
Opened in 2019, Krista Lough Art Conservation is a young company committed to bringing photograph conservation to the Chicago land area and beyond.
Prior to opening my business, I was the Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Photograph Conservation at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Although, the Big Apple offered many opportunities for the arts, I felt it was important to bring my love of conservation of photographic materials to my hometown of Chicago.

TREATMENT OF FINE ART AND HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS
Services
CONDITION REPORTS
COLLECTION SURVEYS
CONDITION ASSESSMENTS ON PROPOSED ACQUISITIONS
COURIER SERVICES

TREATMENT OF FINE ART AND HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS
Conservation treatment of photographic works can involve many different things. It is broadly divided into two categories, stabilization and visual compensation. The stabilization of works is vitally important to improve the long-term stability of a piece. It includes tear repair, consolidation of cracks and flaking image material, stabilizing large losses, and many other treatments that can prevent further loss and damage. Visual compensation of a work is not taken lightly and involves conversations with various stakeholders in the collection. It can include inpainting image loss and filling of losses. They are not necessarily essential to the long-term stability of the work, but they can be used to lessen the visual disruption of loss and damage. I have completed numerous conservation treatments and will work with you to understand what are the anticipated outcomes of the treatment for your work.
Institutional clients
Art Institute of Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Photography
Select list of photographers whose works I have treated:
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Hans Bellmer
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Mathew Brady
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Julia Margaret Cameron
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William Eggleston
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Heinrich Kühn
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László Moholy-Nagy
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Gordon Parks
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Cindy Sherman
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Edward Steichen
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Wolfgang Tillmans
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Carleton Watkins
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Weegee
Resources
Most recent publication:
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Pénichon, Sylvie, Krista Lough, and Paul Messier. (2017). An Objective Revaluation of Photograms by László Moholy-Nagy, Leonardo, Volume 50, Issue 3. (pp. 292- 295)
Most recent presentation:
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Complications with “My Birth”, AIC PMG & ICOM-CC PMWG Joint Meeting, February 2019, New York, New York.
News
I was interviewed by MoMA for a magazine article on my work with the installation piece "My Birth", installed with blue tape. See the link to the article below.